US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to the Middle East this Wednesday (20), for his sixth visit since the start of Israel's war with Hamas.
Joe Biden's top diplomat arrives in the region to push for an agreement that guarantees a temporary pause in fighting and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Blinken will meet with Saudi leaders in the capital Jeddah and Egyptian leaders in Cairo to discuss talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar on a deal, as well as efforts to get more aid to Gaza, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. communicated.
Ceasefire talks will resume this week in Qatar, but weeks of tough negotiations have yet to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas that Washington hopes will help ease the humanitarian crisis plaguing Gaza.
Blinken said he would also continue meetings on agreements for Gaza's governance, security and development after the conflict.
“We have been working hard since January, especially with our Arab partners, and we will continue these conversations as well as discuss what the right architecture is for lasting regional peace,” Blinken said.
The war was sparked when Hamas fighters invaded Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli records.
Nearly 32,000 people were confirmed dead in Israel's retaliatory strike, according to Palestinian health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza, and thousands more are feared lost under the rubble.
Blinken is not scheduled to visit Israel on this trip, despite multiple visits to the US ally on his previous regional trips since October 7.
Tensions have risen between US President Joe Biden's administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Tuesday rejected Biden's call to cancel a planned ground attack on the southern city of Rafah. Gaza, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Source: CNN Brasil
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